Early voting underway on LI, with a few glitches in Nassau

Long Islanders filled out ballots at polling places Saturday as early voting began at selected sites on the Island and statewide.

But it wasn’t a completely smooth morning as a technical glitch at several polling sites in Nassau County created some confusion, at least at one location, and temporarily jammed up the process.

There was a short backlog at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center as people stood in line to vote. 

Margo Cerasoli, 56, of Oceanside, had just cast her ballot there.

"We're going on vacation, so we came in early to get our vote in because we know it's an important election," she said.

During the midterm elections in New York, there are congressional, State Senate and Assembly seats up for grabs, as well as the governor’s seat.

Echoing others, Cerasoli said there are several key issues, including public safety and women’s rights.

"Like I said, it is a very important election and every vote counts," she said. "You have to show up to be heard.”

Poll workers said there was a steady stream of voters. 

Nassau Board of Elections Commissioner James Scheuerman on Saturday morning said voters were able to cast ballots at each of the county’s 27 early voting sites, despite a few problems with printers.

“Voting has never stopped,” he said.

“There’s been a couple of issues like there are on every Election Day that are quickly ironed out,” Scheuerman said. “And there are some issues we are having with our vendor software that are also quickly being ironed out.”

Rudy Boodram, an information specialist who works for the county Board of Elections, said Hempstead, Roosevelt and Wantagh were among the sites with "a communication disruption" between the iPads used to sign voters in and the iPad printers. 

Boodram said each polling site is equipped with four iPads on a table used to sign voters in; two iPad printers that connect to the sign-in iPads and then print out ballots; and two voting machines where the ballots are fed. 

Scheuerman said 14,051 ballots were cast Saturday, including 6,393 registered Democrats and 5,174 registered Republicans.

In Suffolk, Board of Elections Commissioner Betty Manzella said a total of 11,478 residents cast a ballot, including 5,031 registered Democrats and 4,037 registered Republicans. She reported few problems.

“There’s always minor issues on the first day, nothing that cannot be handled,” Manzella said. 

Voters said they were excited to fulfill their civic duty in Suffolk. 

At the Dix Hills Fire Department, Edwin Mui, 57, of Dix Hills, waited for over 10 minutes as the line wrapped around the side of the building.

“I know I am going to be busy at work so I want to make sure I get out and vote. That’s really the main reason,” Mui said about coming out Saturday.

“All the elections are important. Your vote counts, so you have to go out and vote.”

Chermaine Prior, 46, of Deer Park, said this election is a crucial one. She cast her ballot at the Wyandanch Public Library and hopes her early vote will encourage others to participate.

“It lets people know where the wind is blowing so I wanted to make sure I did it. Maybe it’ll push them to say I’ll get out and do it.”

“As far as governor I think it is very important to vote in this election,” Prior said. 

In Hempstead, voters trickled into Hempstead Recreation Center/Kennedy Park. Theodore Brapham, 70, of Hempstead, said he was not aware of an earlier printing glitch.   

"This gives me more opportunity to vote without worrying about work and being late," Brapham said Saturday morning.

"When I voted for the presidential election, I think I waited an hour, and right now there are no crowds," he said. 

Early voting continues through Nov. 6. Election Day is Nov. 8. 

In Nassau County, residents can vote 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. In Suffolk on Sunday, hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.